Conference of Catholic Bishops in Zambia (ZCCBZ) Communications Director Fr Winfield Kunda says it is "fake news" that the Catholic church is organising prayers for Hakainde Hichilema’s healing and release from prison. In a statement, Fr Kunda said the Catholic Church was praying for the nation through mass every Sunday and allowing God’s will to...

Zambia Revenue Authority Commissioner General Kingsley Chanda says as a taxman, he does not expect people to like him even though he is collecting revenue on behalf of the nation. Featuring on ZNBC’s Sunday Interview last evening, Chanda regretted the recent negative stories written about him, describing them as mere distractions. Before the ZRA sought...

The Zambia Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) says government's explanation that the Access to Information Bill has taken long to go to Parliament because the National Assembly has a backlog of laws to enact, is a clear indication that the State does not consider the media as a priority sector. During the World Press Freedom...

Two officers from Mongu Central Police Station on Tuesday stormed Catholic-owned oblate Radio Liseli, demanding for a recording which featured opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema a day before the Kuomboka Ceremony. An Assistant Superintendent only identified as Pupe and Deputy Inspector Muyoma visited the station with a search warrant. “The two police officers came with...

Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) president Jarvis Zimba says diversifying the economy into an agricultural-based one cannot be achieved without putting in place proper incentives. In an interview, Zimba said this year’s AGRITECH Expo (27th to 29th April), which attracted eight countries with over 40 foreign companies exhibiting was a great success. “So [Agriculture] is...

Ministry of Tourism and Arts Public Relations Officer Sikabilo Kalembwe says Zambia recorded a total of 956,332 international tourist arrivals in 2016 compared to 931,782 in 2015 – a marginal increase of 2.6 per cent. However the ministry noted that out of the 58 million international tourists who visited Africa, Zambia received a paltry 1.6...

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe says continued dependency on the mining industry as a major driver of the economy has left other sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, tourism and ICTs largely underdeveloped. Mwanakatwe said this at a press conference this morning where she announced a two-day national economic and business forum...

The French Embassy in Lusaka says the 2017 AGRITECH Expo to be held in Chisamba this weekend will for the first time feature the French Pavilion. The AGRITECH Expo provides a unique opportunity for Zambian entrepreneurs, both large- and small-scale farmers and companies to meet some of the world's leading agricultural companies. “For the first...

The Human Rights Commission says the shooting of a bus driver and a passenger by a police officer in Lusaka's Kamwala area is extremely worrying and at the same time frightening. On Monday this week, a uniformed police officer shot a Flash Bus driver Harrison Miti in the abdomen twice and a female passenger Janet...

Energy Minister David Mabumba has admitted that the increment in electricity tariffs was to a larger extent determined by politics and emotions. And Mabumba says it was the responsibility of the electricity consumers to make Zesco financially viable. Featuring on ZNBC’s Sunday Interview, Mabumba told programme host Grevazio Zulu that government saw it prudent to...

United Nations resident coordinator Janet Rogan says she is encouraged to see many talented women venturing into the manufacturing sector in Zambia. Rogan was speaking at the inaugural seminar and award ceremony on women’s participation in the manufacturing sector at Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka this morning. “It is indeed encouraging to see so many...

Ministry of Finance Director of Economic Management Ireen Musonda Habasimbi says the ministry has not yet received an update from the Bank of Zambia on when Intermarket Bank will reopen to the public. On February 28 this year, Finance Minister Felix Mutati informed Parliament that the bank would reopen within 30 days, which elapsed in...

Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe has expressed concern over the poor performance of the country’s manufacturing sector. Mwanakatwe said statistics from the Central Statistical Office show that the wholesale and retail sectors are now the largest share of overall Gross Domestic Product averaging 18.3 percent per annum. She was speaking at Radisson Blu...

The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflections Executive Director Fr. Leonard Chiti says his organisation will support the planned IMF aid package to Zambia if no stringent conditionality for a bailout programme is attached. Cabinet has given a go ahead for the country to conclude negotiations for an IMF economic bailout facility that is expected to...

Professor Oliver Saasa says the manner in which the arrest of opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was done created some anxiety on the global money market because Zambia is known to be a relatively peaceful country. American based Bloomberg business news channel reported that yields on Zambia’s $1 billion Eurobonds due April 2024 rose 15...

Former Barclays Bank Zambia Plc Managing Director Saviour Chibiya has been appointed as Regional Managing Director responsible for among other functions, the Corporate and Investment Banking business for markets in Africa outside South Africa. Chibiya who served as MD for over six years will be based at the Barclays Africa Group Ltd Head Office in...

The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has approved 67 Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for the month of March 2017 worth over $440 thousand. The approved projects are in energy, tourism, urban development, agriculture and forestry, prospecting and mining as well as manufacturing and processing sectors. “Out of the 83 projects considered, 67 projects were approved,...

Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), the country’s largest integrated copper producer has launched the first bio-diesel production project in Zambia. The project aims to cultivate elite Pongamia Pinnata trees for bio-diesel production at a mining waste site. At an event held in Chingola yesterday, Minister of Works and Supply Matthew Nkhuwa planted elite Pongamia trees on...

Energy Minister David Mabumba says citizens and businesses must accept the upward adjustment of Zesco tariffs because that is the only way the institution can continue to reliably supply electricity. Mabumba said cost-reflective tariffs would attract investment in the energy sector. “The reasons which Victor (Mundende – Zesco Managing Director) has given and I don’t...

The Lusaka South Multi Facility Economic Zone (Lusaka South MFEZ) Managing Director Mukela Lubasi says government has so far spent over US$ 50 million in developing the zone. She said the money had been spent on a power station, roads, water and sewerage systems. Lubasi said once fully developed, the zone; which sits on 2,100...